The British Film Institute (BFI) and Film4 are piloting a high-budget shorts programme called Future Takes that will see a maximum of seven projects awarded with up to £90,000 each.
Future Takes aims to create a stepping stone for emerging filmmakers between lower-budgeted shorts and feature films or longer-form work. Funding comes from BFI National Lottery and Film4.
The deadline for applications is February 13.
A statement from the BFI said the fund is hoping to help up-and-coming filmmakers at a time in which “it is becoming increasingly challenging to secure financing for debut features and get them out to audiences. Therefore there is a growing gap in the support available to filmmakers who may have started their directing, writing and producing careers, but are missing the piece of work that allows them to command greater industry recognition.”
The fund will be available to teams with a background in – but not limited to – filmmaking, theatre, TV, video gaming, commercials, music videos, graphic novels, with a writer/director attached who has a demonstrably strong creative track record in their field. It will not fund directors making their first screen work.
It seeks to back projects which demonstrate a clear career progression, such as with a more ambitious scale or production requirements, a greater duration, explores a more complex story world or uses experimental techniques. It will focus on scripted live action fiction and documentary-fiction hybrid projects.
The new fund will also pilot an access coordinator role on all funded projects, supported by additional BFI National Lottery funding and in partnership with Bridge 06 and Julie Fernandez. It is a first for the BFI Film Fund, and the impact of this role aims to encourage a more proactive approach to accessibility on film productions.
“This pilot is a direct response to the call we repeatedly heard through our consultation and my listening tour, for more possibilities in the funding landscape for this area of talent development that were open to all,” said Mia Bays, director of BFI Film Fund.
“Future Takes aims to offer emerging filmmakers the means to make work that has greater narrative and cinematic scope, and more space to enhance and develop their practice. From discovering new talent who may not be on our radars, through to kick-starting careers that may have stalled, we hope these shorts will launch at international festivals, spark interest from the market and announce the filmmakers to industry as talent to watch and invest in. In teaming up with Film4, we are together developing more opportunities for UK filmmakers, and helping to launch more careers”.
“From Foresight to our upcoming series of shorts by disabled and neurodivergent filmmakers, Film4 has a strong track record in supporting ambitious short form work. We’re now proud to collaborate with our partners at the BFI to open out this opportunity to filmmakers from all creative backgrounds, driven by our shared desire to nurture the next generation of talent across the UK,” added Farhana Bhula, senior commissioning executive at Film4.
Alice Cabañas, head of BFI Network, said: “The talent we see coming through BFI Network from across the UK is truly exciting, yet many still face difficulty to fully break into the sector and change a love and passion for film into a meaningful and fruitful career. Future Takes addresses that, nurturing talent, but also supporting them to build their skills and capabilities as a filmmaker. In line with our mission to ensure funding and opportunities reach talent regardless of their background or where they live, this is an open call.”
No comments yet